PEMBERTON: Maxiell excels in paint despite size

Pistons power forward Jason Maxiell is listed as 6-foot-7. But ask any of his teammates and they will be quick to point out that’s being generous.

“He’s 6-3, maybe 6-4,” Charlie Villanueva said with a laugh.

“That’s being pretty generous,” Greg Monroe said with a smile. “He’s about 6-4 1/2 about the same height as (Rodney) Stuckey.”

But try playing against Maxiell in the paint and nobody is laughing anymore.

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“Every night he comes out and just outworks the next man,” Monroe said. “He plays with a tenacity and the kind of intensity we need on this team.”

“He’s very impressive,” Villanueva said. “His arms are really long. He’s been a tremendous shot blocker for us. ... He has a high motor. The way he blocks shots is unbelievable to me.”

The 260-pound power forward might only stand 6-5, but he plays much bigger.

“You would never know how tall Jason Maxiell is because how hard he plays,” Andre Drummond said. “He’s maybe 6-5, 6-6, he calls himself 6-8, but he plays like he’s 7-foot. That’s what it really boils down to. He plays as hard as he can every single play.”

Even if Maxiell was actually 6-7, he would still be the shortest starting power forward in the NBA.

Most power forwards range from 6-8 to 6-10, but some teams even start 7-footers at power forward.

No matter how tall or strong the opposing team’s power forward is, don’t expect Maxiell to back down.

“It’s all about the motor inside and the heart and will to go out there and play,” Maxiell said. “Being one of the shorter power forwards in the league you have to go out there and perform at a high level every night.”

Maxiell makes up for his lack of height by working hard and playing with tenacity. Maxiell’s goal is to outwork his opponent every night.

“I’m not really expecting to do it, but I have to do it,” Maxiell said. “The will to do it. Not just, ‘OK, I’m going to do it because I’m shorter than everybody else so I have to do it.’ It’s a mindset, it’s a mentality and coming out working hard every night.”

Maxiell doesn’t just show up to the games expecting to outwork his opponents. Maxiell’s preparation allows him to have the energy and strength to go toe-to-toe with players taller than him.

“He’s put a lot of work into his body,” Pistons coach Lawrence Frank said. “He works a great deal on his game, works a lot with (assistant coach) Roy Rogers.

“Even though he’s only 6-foot-2,” Frank joked. “He’s 6-5 with change, he’s in the right position, he doesn’t make gameplan mistakes, he’s clean with his coverages. He has a basket protection mentality despite being a little bit undersized.”